Maritime South Asia hit by massive tsunami

An earthquake of magnitude 8.9 on the Richter scale occured on 26th December UTC 00:58, with its epicentre in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of northern Sumatra.

The earthquake set off tsunamis that have hit several countries of maritime southern Asia. Sri Lanka and Maldives have announced national emergencies, and the Indian cabinet’s Crisis Management Group has appointed Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar to oversee relief operations. The death toll is in the hundreds in the South Asian countries, and is climbing wildly. Scores of people have died in the three South East Asian countries.

Five Naval warships loaded with relief supplies have left for Sri Lanka as Indian Air Force despatched three AN-32 transport aircrafts carrying relief and medical supplies to earthquake and tidal wave devastated Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands.

Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash has directed that five Naval warships from Mumbai, Cochin and Vishakhapatnam to set sail for Trinconmalli and Gallie ports in Sri Lanka in response to a SOS received from the Sri Lankan government.

He said warships are carrying rescue helicopters and boats, naval divers and relief and medical supplies and will be assisting the Sri Lankan navy in rescue operations.

Three AN-32 IAF transport aircrafts left for Port Blair and Karnic airfields in the Andaman group of Islands carrying relief and medical supplies. [TOI]

My own (uneducated) guess is that the shockwaves from the earthquake propagated along the east-west more than the north-south; causing greater damage to the shores of India and Sri Lanka.

Here’s an extract from Dhaka’s Daily Star

Aftab Alam, a geologist and quake-specialist explained to The Daily Star why the water surged so significantly although the buildings were not affected very much.

“This quake mainly shook the ocean waters which is interconnected with the sub-soil water tables,” Alam noted. “The hydrostatic pressure increased and that resulted in water surges in different water bodies across the country.”

Mir Fazlul Karim, Director Geological Survey of Bangladesh considered Bangladesh lucky because it is located far away from the epicentre.

“This type of earthquake occurred in 1734 and created tsunami through out the coastal region of Bangladesh. There is geological evidence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts that tidal waves rose up to 20 feet above the ground level,” Fazlul Karim said.

Samerandra Karmakar, acting director of the met office, also considers Bangladesh lucky despite the fact that the richter scale record was very high. “We are lucky because of the long distance from the epicentre,” he noted. [Daily Star]

The southern and east coast of Sri Lanka were devastated by the Tsunami – giant tidal waves smashed into the island killing thousands of innocent people including people with disabilities. Over a million were made homeless.Thousands of little children have died. Sri Lanka needs desperate help.

The Autism Awareness Campaign in Sri Lanka appeal for humanitarian assistance – we urge you to help the people of Sri Lanka. Please donate generously to humanitarian campaigns such as Christian Aid, Oxfam, UNICEF, Care International, World Vision and others.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has appealed to people around the world to help victims of the floods that struck Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Premier also expressed his thanks to the many countries that have pledged aid for the thousands affected by the tidal waves that followed an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia this morning.

His office at the Temple Trees has already started a hotline for relief funds and information. The contact numbers are:

Tel: 94112542871 or 94112392047
Fax: 94112321404

This operation is being coordinated personally by the Prime Minister through his Secretary Lalith Weeratunga – people around the world can also send donations to the Office of the Prime Minister, Temple Trees, Galle Road, Colombo-3, Sri Lanka.

The Rotary Club of Colombo Regency in Sri Lanka [www.rotaryCregency.org] are formulating plans to channel relief to the areas where they are most needed in Sri Lanka. At a time of this national disaster the nation and its people must stand together. Stand together to help the million victims who have been displaced from their homes and loved ones. Not only have these people lost their family/loved ones they have lost everything except for the clothes on their back.

How you can help

The Rotary Club of Colombo Regency, plans to implement the relief effort in phases in order for it to be effective.

The immediate need is for water and dry food items like biscuits, and canned fish, as displaced people are unable to cook meals just yet. In addition, basic medicines and clothing are also essential.

The second phase in a few days will be to provide dry rations, milk powder etc. as hopefully by that time people would have been moved into refugee camps.

The third phase (5 to 7 days) would be to conduct health camps to prevent/treat any outbreak in disease caused by polluted water and lack of proper sanitation etc at the refugee camps.

In the longer term, rebuilding of life and property would take an enormous effort and would need worldwide help.

For items sent from overseas, The Rotary Club have arranged for duty waivers. Please make sure that you specify the beneficiary as the “Rotary Club of Colombo Regency”, c/o Bary Jaleel, 15 Cambridge Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.

However, send an email The Rotary Club with your full name, contact details and your contribution amounts and modes, so that they could keep a track. You can also log onto http://www.lankafood.com/ and select the items you would like to sponsor, and pay for on line. Details of items needed and their rates will be published on this site within the next 24 hours.

my heart goes out to the people who has been affected by the disaster. i an 300 000 km away and wish i could do something to help those destitute people. i am a follower of buddha and i pray day and night that the lord gives some kind of comfort to those who has left us. my prayers is to those who connot help themselves. may god be with all of you.

Just to let you know i found this great place to make holiday cards. They are usually like $20 but free if you click on this link. I am going to put my christmas letter and favorite family picture in them for christmas cards this year. If your interested

My own (uneducated) guess is that the shockwaves from the earthquake propagated along the east-west more than the north-south; causing greater damage to the shores of India and Sri Lanka.

Here’s an extract from Dhaka’s Daily Star

Aftab Alam, a geologist and quake-specialist explained to The Daily Star why the water surged so significantly although the buildings were not affected very much.

“This quake mainly shook the ocean waters which is interconnected with the sub-soil water tables,” Alam noted. “The hydrostatic pressure increased and that resulted in water surges in different water bodies across the country.”

Mir Fazlul Karim, Director Geological Survey of Bangladesh considered Bangladesh lucky because it is located far away from the epicentre.

“This type of earthquake occurred in 1734 and created tsunami through out the coastal region of Bangladesh. There is geological evidence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts that tidal waves rose up to 20 feet above the ground level,” Fazlul Karim said.

Samerandra Karmakar, acting director of the met office, also considers Bangladesh lucky despite the fact that the richter scale record was very high. “We are lucky because of the long distance from the epicentre,” he noted. [Daily Star]

The southern and east coast of Sri Lanka were devastated by the Tsunami – giant tidal waves smashed into the island killing thousands of innocent people including people with disabilities. Over a million were made homeless.Thousands of little children have died. Sri Lanka needs desperate help.

The Autism Awareness Campaign in Sri Lanka appeal for humanitarian assistance – we urge you to help the people of Sri Lanka. Please donate generously to humanitarian campaigns such as Christian Aid, Oxfam, UNICEF, Care International, World Vision and others.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has appealed to people around the world to help victims of the floods that struck Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Premier also expressed his thanks to the many countries that have pledged aid for the thousands affected by the tidal waves that followed an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia this morning.

His office at the Temple Trees has already started a hotline for relief funds and information. The contact numbers are:

Tel: 94112542871 or 94112392047
Fax: 94112321404

This operation is being coordinated personally by the Prime Minister through his Secretary Lalith Weeratunga – people around the world can also send donations to the Office of the Prime Minister, Temple Trees, Galle Road, Colombo-3, Sri Lanka.

The Rotary Club of Colombo Regency in Sri Lanka [www.rotaryCregency.org] are formulating plans to channel relief to the areas where they are most needed in Sri Lanka. At a time of this national disaster the nation and its people must stand together. Stand together to help the million victims who have been displaced from their homes and loved ones. Not only have these people lost their family/loved ones they have lost everything except for the clothes on their back.

How you can help

The Rotary Club of Colombo Regency, plans to implement the relief effort in phases in order for it to be effective.

The immediate need is for water and dry food items like biscuits, and canned fish, as displaced people are unable to cook meals just yet. In addition, basic medicines and clothing are also essential.

The second phase in a few days will be to provide dry rations, milk powder etc. as hopefully by that time people would have been moved into refugee camps.

The third phase (5 to 7 days) would be to conduct health camps to prevent/treat any outbreak in disease caused by polluted water and lack of proper sanitation etc at the refugee camps.

In the longer term, rebuilding of life and property would take an enormous effort and would need worldwide help.

For items sent from overseas, The Rotary Club have arranged for duty waivers. Please make sure that you specify the beneficiary as the “Rotary Club of Colombo Regency”, c/o Bary Jaleel, 15 Cambridge Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.

However, send an email The Rotary Club with your full name, contact details and your contribution amounts and modes, so that they could keep a track. You can also log onto http://www.lankafood.com/ and select the items you would like to sponsor, and pay for on line. Details of items needed and their rates will be published on this site within the next 24 hours.

my heart goes out to the people who has been affected by the disaster. i an 300 000 km away and wish i could do something to help those destitute people. i am a follower of buddha and i pray day and night that the lord gives some kind of comfort to those who has left us. my prayers is to those who connot help themselves. may god be with all of you.

melissa

Just to let you know i found this great place to make holiday cards. They are usually like $20 but free if you click on this link. I am going to put my christmas letter and favorite family picture in them for christmas cards this year. If your interested